Elisabeth Feodorovna didn't answer at once. For a moment she pondered, as if mentally asking the Lord to give her the right words.
" First of all, dear sister", she finally broke the silence, " do you really think yourself able to love your nearest and dearest more than Our Lord does? I know you, Mina quite well. Thank God, you are not that self-assured, and you are reasonable enough to agree that Our Lord loves all His creatures far more than any of us. Even if a mother forgets her child, I'll never forget My people, remember?
Mina was surprised. Experienced as she was, she didn't expect the conversation to take that direction.
"Why, Mother, of course I know that!"
"Then do not ever take upon yourself more responsibility than you're able to carry, dear Mina. As for your friend's and your husband's fates, leave them to the Lord's care. His will be done, and He shall open His will to you, if you choose to search for it.But let me continue"
The Grand Duchess rose and came up closer to Mina.
"Wilhelmina, please tell me, what did we come to this place for?"
Mina was taken aback.
"What for? What do you mean, Mother?! "
"Why have we changed our everyday clothes for the apostolnik and veil and our homes for this House of mercy? Surely it would have been ridiculous to change the exterior and leave the interior - our heart – to its own devices? What's the use of such a change, if our own heart condemn us? If, instead of purity, love and mercy it still contains spitefulness, injury and bitterness? Are we not, should it be so, be likened to the Pharisees, whom Our Saviour compared to the painted coffins?"
Mina felt uneasy at the comparison, but she felt Mother Superior was right. She always was, however.
" You were right, sister, " Elisabeth Feodorovna's voice reached her again, "to compare this temptation to a splinter. An injury is always like a splinter in your soul.
A splinter that only God can remove.
Your hatred , or even ill thoughts, makes harm to nobody but yourself.
Remember, my dear, these words: it can never be easy to forgive. Forgiveness is always a hard job.
Not only an act of humanity towards a person we forgive, but also a concern for your own destiny – you'll be judged by the measure you used to judge others, you know it as well as I. "
Mina stood up. Her mind had yet to digest all the advice she just received.
" Thank you very much for your understanding , Mother, and for your reprimand as well. Give me your blessing, please, Mother"
"God bless you, sister. Go with peace"
She was about to leave the cell, when the Grand Duchess addressed her once again.
"And, Wilhelmina, the Fathers also say that if you cannot bring yourself to forgive somebody, you should imagine that person lying in a coffin, and yourself going to give him your last kiss….Remember this, sister."
On coming out of the cell Mina reached the garden bench, sat and closed her eyes for a moment…
… There was on his face a look of peace she could have never imagined to be there…
"Here he lies where he longed to be
Home is the sailor, home from sea
And the hunter home from the hill"
And in that instant something tinkled and fell down on the ground.
Mina rose and looked under the bench, wondering what could she lose there.
It was nothing but a splinter…
Finis